New trackday/autox/midlife crisis toy

[Duke]

I've known about this car for a year or two, as I see the owner at 4 or 5 autocrosses a year, and he lives in my neighborhood. 6 months ago I drove it for a couple of fun runs at an event and had a blast. As we were packing up, I casually mentioned that if he ever wanted to sell it, he should look me up.

2 weeks ago he stopped by my house one evening and told me to make an offer. After pondering for a week, I made him one. He took it, and now it's part of my fleet:

It looks black here, but it's actually a dark blue-green metallic. It's a '96 MX-5 base model, well set up and well sorted for track days. It's supercharged and intercooled, pushing a conservative 10 psi or so. Recently dynoed at just under 240hp at the wheels, which probably means more like 260 at the crank. Thanks to the blower, it's got an evil whine to it and a torque curve the size and profile of a competition billiards table.

It's also had the suspension seen to, with coilovers and adjustable Koni Sports, chassis bracing, big brakes with Wilwood calipers and 2-piece rotors, and a Hard Dog double-diagonal rollbar. These tires are fairly new Toyo Proxes RA-1s on 15x7 Motegi wheels of unknown model. I also have an older set of Kumho V700 competition tires on Kosei K1s in the garage.

I have another Momo seat (as well as the stock driver's side), but this combination makes the most sense except for track days, which makes an easy swap to put the racing bucket in for the passenger. 5-point harnesses on both sides.

I really hadn't intended to get a dedicated toy for a few years, but this opportunity popped up and I made a fairly aggressive offer on it, which the PO took because he had a new 2010 MX-5 on the way. So now I have 6 count 'em, 6 - cars at the house. I need to find a long-term storage spot for my old Pontiac so I can get the van back in the garage and out of the street.

 

[Thatman]

Nice buy, just sell one of the others.

 

[Tornado]

Really nice. That's all I can really say.


How much did you get it for, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Duke]

Nice buy, just sell one of the others.

Problem is, I've owned the car that's the most likely candidate for sale for almost 30 years, and I've been directly involved with it for 43 years... not easy to part with something like that, even if I don't drive it any more.

Really nice. That's all I can really say.

Thanks! It's not minty, but its not supposed to be - it's supposed to get driven hard. It's got about 108k on it but it's been pretty well looked after mechanically.

How much did you get it for, if you don't mind me asking?

About what the supercharger kit cost new a few years ago. I think a variety of factors came into play - PO knew it had limited appeal outside of a small subset of buyers, he had a new car on the way; he also knew me, and is at least partly responsible for me getting into autocross.

 

[turboash78]

Very nice addition... must go like stink and sound fantastic! Love that supercharger whine!

 

[homeforsummer]

Very nice 👍 looks in very good condition and some nice parts in there too. Engine bay's a bit busier than mine thanks to the 'charger!

 

[Jim Prower]

Awesome, Blown Miata. We must have a drive report the first time you cross it.

 

[Famine]

It looks black here, but it's actually a dark blue-green metallic.

Montego Blue.

Recently dynoed at just under 240hp at the wheels

Lawks!

 

[Duke]

Awesome, Blown Miata. We must have a drive report the first time you cross it.

Already have. First time I did was a couple of fun runs, with competition rubber (newish R-888s). Hopped in and promptly dropped about 4 seconds off my fastest time from that day in the 325i (older RE-01R street tires), in a ~mid 50s pass. Second time was as an extended test drive on the street tires - newish RA1s. Ran somewhere between what the BMW would have run and what I could have done on the R-comps... and I was sideways through the second half of both sweepers. It should do well if I can keep my foot out of it and get it on R-comps.

I'm probably going to pick up a hitch and little tire trailer for it, too.

Montego Blue.

Thanks. I haven't checked the paint code, but that sounds right.

Lawks!

Indeed. During a short grocery run (and the missus's first ride) earlier this evening, I briefly booted it just a bit and elicited a similar response. It goes like a startled cat when you get on it.

 

[Smallhorses]

NA Miata. Luverly. 👍
Enjoy. A lot.
It's very hard not to!

 

[eSZee]

240whp is more than 260hp at the rank my friend. Lucky bugger.

 

[Sage]

Lord above, what a treat! Wow wow wow. Wow. WOW.

 

[JCE]

You know how I feel about MX-5's. But I want to say they look good with dual exhaust, 5 star wheels, racing seats with harnesses. 👍

Now get us a video of this supercharger whine already!

 

[astrosdude91]

I want a Miata! Very nice purchase. What was the offer you made him? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[Eric.]

NA Miata. Luverly. 👍
Enjoy. A lot.
It's very hard not to!

Its not NA, its boosted.

 

[Sage]

NA = first-gen Miata (NB = second-gen, NC = third-gen)

 

[Keef]

Mmm, and this is why I'm going back to school, so one day when an offer like this comes along I can snag it up like woah.

If you ever consider selling it you should get a hold of me.

 

[somebody]

240whp is more than 260hp at the rank my friend. Lucky bugger.

Depending on the individual engine and what dyno it's running on blah, blah blah... it works out around 275 - 295bhp.

Nice buy

 

[Sage]

This really makes me want to buy a cheapass Miata and work it up as a project car, but I don’t have a garage.

 

[niky]

Its not NA, its boosted.

Again... this board is in dire need of sarcasm tags... or looney tags...

240whp is more than 260hp at the crank my friend. Lucky bugger.

Was sort of thinking the same thing... 240 whp would be a little closer to 270+ on a Miata drivetrain... depending on the dyno... 10 psi only? Are american pounds bigger than the rest of the world's?

Mental, mental, mental car. Awesome purchase!

 

[Sage]

Heh, sorry, my circle of friends is mostly people who know 🤬-all about cars, so I tend to just assume people don’t know these things.

 

[niky]

Heh, sorry, my circle of friends is mostly people who know 🤬-all about cars, so I tend to just assume people don’t know these things.

Don't worry... I missed a few in the past few days, myself. and just don't have the same flavor as

 

[Famine]

This really makes me want to buy a cheapass Miata and work it up as a project car, but I don’t have a garage.

We have three. Don't mind storing an NA for you

 

[ExigeEvan]

Problem is, I've owned the car that's the most likely candidate for sale for almost 30 years, and I've been directly involved with it for 43 years... not easy to part with something like that, even if I don't drive it any more.

Until the mentioned the old-timer I thought you'd manage to sneakily fit the others in the background of the Miata photos!

Good purchase!

 

[Duke]

You know how I feel about MX-5's. But I want to say they look good with dual exhaust, 5 star wheels, racing seats with harnesses. 👍

Now get us a video of this supercharger whine already!

I'll try, but it may be a bit. Noodling around town you normally stay out of boost pretty much. I may try to rig a camera mount so I can video autocross runs.

I want a Miata! Very nice purchase. What was the offer you made him? If you don't mind me asking.

Well, I'm hesitant, because I think the seller was motivated by kindness as much as by his incoming 2010 MX-5. I wouldn't want him to think I'm bragging. But since he doesn't read these boards, I paid $5000 cash, plus $300 for the used race wheels/tires.

Mmm, and this is why I'm going back to school, so one day when an offer like this comes along I can snag it up like woah.

That's a great lesson to take away, kids! And the other is this: I haven't had a car payment in 2 years, and don't plan to for the next 4 years at least. We could both easily be driving jazzy new cars, but the newest we own is a 2004. Avoiding debt is a great way to have extra cash on hand when you want something.

This really makes me want to buy a cheapass Miata and work it up as a project car, but I don’t have a garage.

And there's the rub... the 'van normally goes in that nice warm dry spot in front of the Miata. Out of sight to the left is the Pontiac, under cover, which means the poor 'van is in the street. I desperately need to find garage space for the Poncho so I can put the Miata over there so the 'van can come back in out of the rain.

Was sort of thinking the same thing... 240 whp would be a little closer to 270+ on a Miata drivetrain... depending on the dyno... 10 psi only? Are american pounds bigger than the rest of the world's?

Mental, mental, mental car. Awesome purchase!

That means a lot, coming from you, sir! Thanks. Since I don't have crank figures, I try to avoid the usual overestimation of drivetrain losses. But figure 10% means the car is making about 264 hp at the crank.

Until the mentioned the old-timer I thought you'd manage to sneakily fit the others in the background of the Miata photos!

Good purchase!

Yes, all the cars in the background are mine/ours, including the unseen Pontiac behind the closed garage door. My wife was shaking her head and saying it looked like we were having a party all by ourselves. I've GOT to find cheap dry garage space that isn't across the pond...

 

[Event]

240 at the wheels? sounds unbelievable with just a blower and intercooler... any other performance mods?

looks like its in awesome shape. I want one!

 

[PAPPACLART]

Nice, tho I always thought the MX5 to be a hair dressers car hahah! Certainly tho, with 240bhp at the wheels, that car is a beast, with it being so light!!

I am sure on track, you will certainly suprise a few bigger more expensive cars!!


Motorcycles usually loose approx 10-12% through transmitional losses, and with only 1 rear wheel to turn and a chain drive, often with smaller and lighter internal parts vs a car engine of similar size, I would have thought the figure for losses for a rear wheel drive car would be closer to 20%, with 4wd cars being higher. But I am not a car expert.

 

[Famine]

The numbers rolling roads use to fudge it upwards are 15% FWD, 17.5% RWD and 25% 4WD.

But since crank power doesn't get you anywhere anyway, wheel power is the number to use

 

[Pupik]

Duke, shop Amazon....Problem Solved.

(Is there something wrong with Amazon selling car lifts? Maybe I'm just stuck in the '90s...)

 

[Duke]

240 at the wheels? sounds unbelievable with just a blower and intercooler... any other performance mods?

looks like its in awesome shape. I want one!

It's got a full Racing Beat exhaust including header and cat, plus a programmable engine management system, bigger injectors, and the cool-air intake you see.

Oh, and it's got a Torsen LSD. For, you know, fun and stuff.

Niky, it's currently got the 10psi pulley on it because I want it to be durable and reliable... 12 psi would make more power, and more stress, and put the blower closer to full capacity. I'd rather go another 50,000 miles than get another 50 horsepower!